New recruit: Former Engro CEO Asad Umar joins PTI
The former chief executive officer (CEO) of Engro Corporation, Asad Umar, formally joined Imran Khan’s Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) on Wednesday in what is the party’s most high-profile recruitment outside the political sphere.
Umar made the announcement at a joint news conference with the party chief, Imran Khan, in Islamabad. The PTI remained in opposition for 16 years but never compromised on its manifesto in exchange for political benefits, Umar said.
He said the party’s leadership was committed to running the PTI as an institution and added that reorganisation of the party would remain a priority.
Umar said the country’s two major political parties – the Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz and the Pakistan Peoples Party – were part of a decades-old political system, which, he added, did not allow them to make decisions for the betterment of the nation even if they wanted to do so.
Umar recently took an early retirement from Engro at the age of 50 amid speculation that he was giving up a highly successful business career to begin a political one.
When he took over as president and CEO of Engro in January 2004, it was largely just a fertiliser manufacturer with a small petrochemical subsidiary. Under his leadership, however, the company turned into a diversified industrial conglomerate, with interests ranging from fertilisers, foods, petrochemicals, chemical storage, energy and commodity trading.
Imran opposes unilateral withdrawal
On his part, PTI chief Imran Khan said that Pakistan and India should both withdraw troops from Siachen and the move should not be unilateral.
PML-N chief Nawaz Sharif on Tuesday called for demilitarisation of Siachen and advised Pakistan to take the lead.
Asked whether he was planning to visit Giari, as Nawaz did on Tuesday, Imran said that the PML-N chief had enough resources to visit Giari, but “our hearts and prayers are with the soldiers and their families.”
Responding to a question, Imran said corruption is the biggest problem and the rulers are trying to pressurise the judiciary into not holding them accountable. “The nation and PTI stand with the judiciary,” he said.
About his public meeting in Quetta scheduled for April 20, Imran said although it was a risky decision due to the precarious security situation, they would still go there to show solidarity with the Baloch people. “I will address without a bullet-proof dais. No political party leader in Pakistan can do this,” he said.
Imran criticised the recommendations of the Parliamentary Committee on National Security on Pakistan-US ties, saying that neither was there any apology over the Nato attack in Salala nor any guarantee for an end to drone strikes in the tribal areas. (With additional input from Agencies)
Published in The Express Tribune, April 19th, 2012.
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Assalamu alie kum !
we call Asad a man of vision,passion, and a true patriotic. I salute him for taking such a bold decision by incorporating himself in to Politics especially in a stage where people hardly have any faith on the Pakistan Politics. we also admire his decision for joining PTI rather staying back to a CEO position and could have earned alot more than what he can within this position which is so far not cleared.This thirst for better Pakistan and his moral and ethical accountability towards a Safer Pakistan had caused him to take that bold decision. May ALLAH SWT bless him and rewards him for the same, at the same time may ALLAH SWT helps him in making Pakistan a safer country, peaceful nation as well flourish our youth with education , employment , and having believe in believe in Pakistan and its resources In Shaa ALLAH.
One of the most fulfilling addition to Ik team.I believe he is the only person who can be blindly trusted for any advice,Its great work Mr.Imran Khan and please keep it up.
Saw Asad Umar @ TED conference on youtube, everyone should check it out, hes highly intelligent . All the best to him and PTI. What i find amazing, is how good these guys (who are joining tehreek-e-insaaf) are at what they do, People like Dr Azeem Ibrahim, a proven success (check out his C.V. Probably one of the most successful Pakistanis i know of..3 masters degrees, a PHD from Cambridge, formerly part of the ELITE paratrooper regiment in the British army, advised the white house, acted as a consultant to Turkey on how to attract FDI, is one of the richest men in scotland ($100 million+)..And hes not even hit 35 yet), and now Asad Umar, you realise how intelligent, professional and competent IK's team are. Really, these are guys who have created wealth in the west (and in Asad Umars case, in Pakistan via Engro). This has just boosted my already bullish outlook on the future of Pakistan, SHOULD PTI come to power.
@DrPj:
They have released 2 policies to date - village empowerment (local government) and energy resolution. You need to follow the facebook pages more closely!!
@DrPj: u make no sense
We higly trust on AU (asad umar), ALLAH have gifted him with lots of potential. He can change the political & econimic condition of pakistan. SEE YOU (ASAD UMAR) as Finance Minister soon. Asad have great leadership qualities, if he can make a change in engro fertilizer which was just a million doller company & now within a few years it is a billion doller company. No doubt he have the ability to change the direction of PAKISTAN.
ALLAH BLESS YOU.
@DrPj:
Isn't Nawaz the part of this so called "ruling alliance"? And by the way this childish idealistic approach of yours would have only caused anxiety if anything!
Highly laudable. You have chosen a right path. I pray to Allah the Almighty to please help PTI in building a strong Pakistan (Ameen). Once again thank you Sir for joining PTI. PAKISTAN PAAINDABAD
@drpj u better get ur facts right. Pti gas already released their energy policy and their policy for local governtment system. As for AU joining pti. I think it is a great addition to pti and Ik really is fulfilng his promise of a dream team !!
@DrPj: If you can name me one single person in either the PPP, PML(N), ANP, JI, or PML(Q) that has successfully managed a large corporation (Over Rs 20billion turnover) without plundering it, that has delivered success on paper and on the ground, and has the domestic & international management experience of Asad Umar....i will personally accompany you to the polling station to cast my vote, along with yourself, for Zardari-Bhutto. Until then, i suggest you go read PTI's energy policy, and local government policy
Asad Umar's new business plan joining #PTI, and forgiving a salary of 5.7 million a month. @asad_umar he is a desi version of Steve jobs
Great signing - Asad can do wonders to PTI organization!! Way to go
Congrats to PTI once again. PPP and other parties have lost trust of the Pakistani nation
He recruited another person. Yes, so what?
I was inclined towards supporting Imran and became more for him when he said that his team would release their governance and policy plans.
That has not been done. He is quickly losing what relevance he had gained towards the end of 2011; sad.
Great tactics by PPP; they knew Imran would fizzle out so they did nothing; they let Nawaz bluster and get aggressive and therefore portray Imran as competition to PML-N rather than the ruling alliance.